India tells US lawmaker: FCRA amendment is our internal affair

The Story in Brief

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday rejected US Congressman Riley Moore's criticism of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, calling it an internal matter for Parliament. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that several nations, including the US, regulate foreign funds. Moore, a West Virginia Republican, had alleged the bill would permit government takeovers of churches and religious charities, calling it an attack on Christians. The proposed amendment empowers a designated authority to manage or sell assets created from foreign funds by NGOs whose FCRA registration is cancelled or not renewed. Home Minister Amit Shah has assured Christian leaders the law will not apply retrospectively.